THE threat to historic paving tiles in more than 50 Southport streets is having repercussions in a small North Wales town.

Residents in Buckley, Flintshire, which produced the famous nine-inch blue tiles which line much of our resort, have demanded that the last-remaining artifacts of their once-famous brick industry are not forever lost.

The distinctive tiles were churned out in their millions by Buckley brick-maker C Davison in the 20th century.

But years of wear and tear have finally taken their toll as council bosses prepare to replace the Buckley pavers with modern concrete slabs.

Under a 1990 ruling, only areas around the north Promenade and Hesketh Park areas – as well as Lord Street – will retain the eye-catching clay tiles.

Paul Davies, secretary of the Buckley Society, said it would be sad to see the demise of the town’s historic contribution to the streets of Southport.

He said: “Millions of paving blocks were made in Buckley by several brickyards, the clay here was unrivalled for its strength and durability.

“Some 13 brickyards were in operation at any one time and Buckley brick-makers were some of the leading industrialists of their time.

“Buckley bricks were used all over the world, including Southport.”

Ron Millward, 89, worked in Davison’s brickyard in his younger days.

He said: “I remember thousands of the distinctive reddish-blue pavers going to Southport and Morecambe.

“Unfortunately they won’t find any matches these days as the Buckley yards that produced them – Ewloe Barn and the Old Ewloe brickyard – closed in the early 1970s.

“I hope they can recycle some in Southport so that at least some of their streets remain paved with Buckley’s clayware.”

Work to replace Southport tiles on Conyers Avenue has been temporarily postponed after the intervention of Birkdale ward councillors.

Senior councillors will decide in early May whether to enforce the installation of concrete slabs.